Thunderous Intentions
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5 reason’s why OKC Thunder RPM projections fall short

By Lawrence George

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Head Coach Billy Donovan of the the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Head Coach Billy Donovan of the the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder forward Jerami Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – APRIL 23: Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball before the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Grant’s Improved Play

Grant’s projected minus -1.7 is based upon his three previous RPM’s. Despite producing a net rating of positive +0.8 on a terrible second unit, Pelton envisions the hybrid forward being a net negative this upcoming season.

Oklahoma City altered Grant’s game by primarily playing him in pick and roll sets. 26.7 percent of his offense came as the roll man where he scored 1.24 points per possession (ppp). To put things in perspective, Karl Anthony-Towns is considered one of the best PnR players in the league and scored 1.16 ppp when the roll man.

The 24 year-old also doubled his shots in the restricted area from 145 in 2016-17 to 294 last season and increased his percentage from 61.4 to 65.3. Given that the Thunder use PnR in 18 percent of their offensive sets, Grant stands to make another jump as his shots in the paint increase.

Grant set career highs in points (8.4), field goal percentage (53.5) and free throw percentage (67.5) in just 20.3 minutes per game. While his 3-PT stroke is inconsistent and needs additional work (29.1 percent last season), his play appears to be on an upward trajectory and OKC fans will expect further improvement this coming year.

Just to refresh your memories from last season, here are Grant’s top 10 plays from last year.

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